This is why they invented bug fixes.
Following last week’s release of iOS 9.3, a significant number of users have complained about an apparent iOS bug that causes Safari, Mail, Messages, Notes, Chrome, and select other preinstalled and third-party apps to crash or freeze after tapping or long-pressing on web links.
The issue has actually spread, with some users claiming to have encountered the bug in iOS 9.2.1 or earlier versions of the firmware. A wide range of devices appear to be affected, including the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPad Air 2, and iPad mini.
While Apple has yet to officially comment on the issue, some users have suggested turning off JavaScript under Settings > Safari > Advanced as a temporary solution. However, this will degrade your web browsing experience. Force closing Safari or other affected apps, or restarting the iPhone entirely, does not appear to fix the problem.
The underlying issue itself remains unconfirmed, although mobile specialist Ben Collier believes there may be a related bug that breaks iOS 9’s new Universal Links feature when an app’s site association file is beyond a certain size,.
With the release of iOS 9, Apple introduced Universal Links, which allow app developers to associate their website and app, so links to the website can open the app up automatically if installed.
It looks like there’s a bug in iOS that completely breaks the Universal Links if it gets served an app association file that’s too large.
This larger file size appears to break the iOS database on a given device.
For now, some users have begun using alternate web browsers such as Puffin, iCab, Firefox and other web browsers to bypass the web links issue.
Finally, Collier also released another theory that there may be an issue within the Shared Web Credentials daemon, which allows apps and websites to share login credentials for the purposes of Universal Linking.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors, Apple Support Communities and Twitter